Writers: Jenny Sinclair, Ian Harkin, Georgia Doyle
Photographers: Hannah Howard, Marcela Massey
Cover image: Jodie Dent
RESULTS
Melbourne Mavericks 61 def GIANTS Netball 52
Adelaide Thunderbirds 74 def NSW Swifts 54
Melbourne Vixens 60 def Queensland Firebirds 49
West Coast Fever 68 def Sunshine Coast Lightning 65
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NEWS OF THE WEEK
Suncorp Super Netball has a sparkly new trophy for its tenth season. Unveiled at the 2026 season launch, the silverware is far more in keeping with one of Australia’s premier sports. Who will be the first club to claim it? The former trophy, featuring netty legends Romelda Aiken-George and Sharni Layton, was donated to sponsor Suncorp.
Thunderbirds co-captain Georgie Horjus has been spotted wearing a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) on her arm this week. Generally used to monitor diabetes, it’s unknown why Horjus is using the device. Coach Tania Obst was noncommittal at her side’s press conference.
Georgie Horjus has been spotted wearing a glucose blood monitor all week. Image Jodie Dent/Decadent Design
An innovation this year – scoreboards, both on television and at venues, not only display a team’s total score, but during the power play, they also show the number of regular goals and super shots they’ve scored. For example, the first game of the round saw the Mavericks (45-8) 61 defeat Giants (36-8) 52. This is a good initiative to provide the fans with more information. Some people say it reminds them of Australian Rules scores featuring goals and behinds.
The UK’s Netball Super League released a statement discouraging online abuse, and claiming “netball should be a safe and positive space for everyone on and off the court”. The statement was potentially released in response to heated social media exchanges between fans and London Pulse player Alicia Scholes. Her coach Sam Bird answered some hard-hitting questions about the issue on Nia Jones and Emily Wilson’s podcast, Here if You Need – The Netball Pod.
London Mavericks unveiled their Choice Kit range that sees players able to choose to wear dresses, or singlets and leggings or shorts during a match. While there are pros and cons for the use of this inclusion gear at professional level, former English coach Tracey Neville revealed an interesting point on Sky Sports Off the Court podcast. Dresses have far more room available to feature sponsors, an important factor in a sport that is competing for funding.
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NEWS OF THE ROUND
The Silver Ferns would be rubbing their hands at a number of stand out performances by their squad over the weekend. With most of their current starting seven playing in Australia, it’s a perfect training ground leading into this year’s Commonwealth Games. Interestingly, it looks certain that Maddy Gordon and Kate Heffernan will largely be used at wing attack and centre respectively.
In the Silver Ferns outfit, they are more commonly seen at centre and wing defence, but in recent outings the side has looked far stronger with them moved forwards into their current Super Netball positions. Coaching staff and selectors would be ecstatic as a result of the extra practice in less familiar positions.
Silver Fern Kate Heffernan had a fine debut. Image Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media
Dan Ryan has serious competition for the loudest person in the coaches box. Not so coincidentally, it comes from his own assistant, Sharni Layton who well and truly exercised her tonsils at Fever’s first home game.
While Super Netball is the poorer for former Vixens’ coach Simone McKinnis’ absence (who can forget her ‘lets go to the pub’ comment), their incoming leader has a dry humour all of her own. Di Honey was caught on camera telling wing attack Hannah Mundy to “calm her farm”.
Incoming Vixens head coach Di Honey is quite the comedian. Image Marcela Massey
Six of the teams used their entire ten, but the Vixens gave game time to eight players, and the Fever just seven. That’s normal territory for the Vixens, although the Fever generally use all of their squad. However, the injury ravaged group will be looking to bed down combinations before giving court time to several of their replacement players.
The Thunderbirds celebrated former captain Hannah Petty, after she retired at the end of the 2025 season, with a dress presentation at their match. Petty is now enjoying rural life with her partner and teaching school.
The Thunderbirds celebrated former captain Hannah Petty, who retired at the end of the 2025 season. Image Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media
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Milestones
Maddy Turner (Swifts) played her 150th National League game
Amy Parmenter (Mavericks) played her 100th SSN match
Sacha McDonald (Mavericks) made her Super Netball debut
Natalie Sligar (Lightning) made her Super Netball debut
International players – Whitney Souness and Jane Watson (Giants), Elmeré van der Berg and Kate Heffernan (Thunderbirds), Kelly Jackson, Maddy Gordon, and Te Paea Selby-Rickit (Firebirds), and Karin Burger (Lightning) all played their first SSN matches.
Gerard Murphy (Mavericks), Nerida Stewart (Giants), and Di Honey (Vixens) all made their head coaching debuts.
During her game in round one, Lightning captain Liz Watson passed two huge statistical milestones; 2,500 centre pass receives, and 5,000 circle feeds.
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Mavericks 61 def Giants 52 (MVP Jamie-Lee Price)
A solid defensive effort gave Mavericks victory in a tough, sloppy battle marred by 59 general play turnovers between the two teams. This resulted in a poor 60% centre pass conversion rate from both sides. Mavericks had better access to their shooters, courtesy of marvelously silky transition play from Jamie-Lee Price against her old club. Price, in combination with old teammate Parmenter, and backed up by smart timing and positioning from Tara Hinchliffe, smothered and addled the opposition. While Sophie Dwyer gave good leadership and Lucy Austin delivered some good holds at times, Giants’ failed to dictate any space in attack, particularly suffering from lack of a strong target shooter.
Thunderbirds 74 def Swifts 54 (MVP Elmere van der Berg)
Thunderbirds put the competition on notice with a dominant display in round one, showing why many pegged them as premiership favourites from the outset. Elmeré van der Berg was sublime at goal shooter, scoring 59/62 and making the Swifts defensive combos look ineffective. Shamera Sterling-Humphrey also returned to the court following the birth of her son in October, and while her three gains are below what we expect from her, it was an impressive outing against Grace Nweke who didn’t get the support she needed from her goal attack or mid-courters.
The centre pass conversion rate of 63% from the Swifts shows there is plenty of work to be done in solidifying their attacking end, with the mid-court in particular looking shaky as two players return from pregnancy while Tayla Fraser was back in the red dress following some time with the Mavericks.
Shamera Sterling-Humphry desperately tries to keep herself onside. Image Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media
Vixens 60 def Firebirds 49 (MVP Kate Moloney)
The Firebirds were able to challenge the Vixens for 30 minutes, before the 2025 Premiers asserted their dominance. Maddy Gordon was a standout for the Firebirds – with no turnovers in her 60 minute game she was able to use her speed and decisive drives to direct traffic in the attacking third, but her teammates struggled to capitalise in the circle, finishing with just 70% shooting accuracy. Kate Moloney was the everpresent steadying force for the Vixens, making up for the combined 11 turnovers from Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin. While Rudi Ellis was able to disrupt the ball into Mary Cholhok despite recording a game high 22 penalties.
The Vixens twin towers – Rudi Ellis and Jo Weston – made life difficult for the Firebirds who shot at a combined 69.8% accuracy in the lowest score of the round. Image Marcela Massey
Fever 68 def Lightning 65 (MVP Sasha Glasgow)
Fever withstood a late surge by Lightning to win in front of 8,000 fans at RAC Arena. Having lost Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard to pregnancy in the off-season and with a further five players injured, there was a feeling Fever may struggle this year. Enter Romelda Aiken-George who came out of a short-lived retirement to play for her fourth club. She shot 53/62, the most goals she has ever scored in an SSN game.
Sasha Glasgow, returning to her former team, played the perfect role in the circle; 27 assists, five super shots and four pickups. Fever had the ascendancy for most of the game, helped by the strong defence of Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Fran Williams. Lightning was heavily penalised throughout (Courtney Bruce 24), which had them on the back foot. Facing a deficit of 10 goals, they put up 13 supershot attempts in the last quarter to fight back, but ran out of time. Best for Lightning were Liz Watson and Mahalia Cassidy. The new shooting combination of Donnell Wallam and Cara Koenen needs more work.
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PLAYERS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE
The best in a beaten side, Jane Watson racked up nine deflections and four gains, using her trademark tenacity and tricky timing. Able to find uncanny deflections on even the shortest feeds, and keeping eyes up to come off her own player, Watson gave much-needed inspiration and loads of grit to a Giants team struggling with poor connection and careless errors. The entertaining Silver Ferns veteran will be one to watch for fans, and potentially one to fear for opposition midcourters.
Has there been a better debut in Super Netball since Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard first strode onto the court. In less than 60 minutes on court, Elmere van der Berg scored the most goals by a Thunderbird (59/61 at 95%) in Super Netball, and helped them to their highest-ever score in SSN. Van der Berg contributed 7 second phase receives, picked up a rebound and gave away just one turnover. She scored Thunderbirds’ first 20 goals before shooting partner Lauren Frew even put up an attempt.
We’re calling it early – Elmere van der Berg for recruit of the year. Image Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media
Helen Housby was quiet by her standards, putting up just 8/16 and nailing just one of her six attempts at a supershot. While Housby was busier outside the circle, with 20 centre pass receives, 7 goal assists and 1 intercept, fans were left scratching their heads about her shooting form. Is it a case of an athlete that performs better in a moving circle than combined with a holding shooter, or just a tough day at the office?
Is Kiera Austin the Vixens (and the Diamonds) most important player? She shot a remarkable 27/29 (93%), while also contributing 18 centre pass receives, 17 feeds, 2 deflections and 1 rebound. She was successful in shooting over the long arms of Kelly Jackson, something which has bothered her in the past. Austin continues to go from strength to strength, racking up numbers rarely seen by a goal attack.
Kiera Austin had an exceptional day under the post. Image Marcela Massey
With Ruth and Sunday Aryang sadly facing a long stint on the sidelines, many wondered if Fever’s defensive unit would be light on this season. That was until Fran Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney said “hold my drinks”! The duo combined almost seamlessly for 10 gains as they kept Lightning’s shooting end relatively quiet until they unleashed a hail of supershots in the closing stages of the match. Statistically it was the best performance by a defensive duo during the weekend, in an area that the Thunderbirds usually dominate.
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STAT CHAT
Fever continued their incredible winning run against Lightning. Their 68-65 win was their 11th straight victory and their 15th in the last 16 clashes. Lightning’s last win over Fever came in round 10, 2021. Cara Koenen and Mahalia Cassidy are the only two Lightning players remaining from that win.
In their win, Fever recorded a centre-pass to goal rate of 82% which is actually higher than their average from 2025. With no Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard in the line-up, some would have predicted a drop off in this statistic for Fever, but early signs are that may not be the case.
Centre pass to goal rate in Round 1:
Fever – 82%
Thunderbirds – 79%
Lightning – 74%
Vixens – 69%
Swifts – 63%
Firebirds – 62%
Giants – 60%
Mavericks – 60%
Firebirds’ problems with the super shot continued. In recent years, they have consistently struck trouble during that 20 minutes of the game, and the game against Vixens was a good illustration. They shot just 5/14 (36%) and that inaccuracy contributed to Firebirds having nine missed goal turnovers for the match. That’s a real killer. However, their shooting woes didn’t end there. They finished with the lowest score of the round – 49 – and the worst overall shooting accuracy at 69.8%.
There was only one team with a lower super shot percentage than Firebirds in 2025, and that was Fever. But now they have Sasha Glasgow back. She shot 5/7 in round one, so expect Fever to improve dramatically this season. Swifts’ Helen Housby shot just 1/6 super shots which is most unlike her. And Thunderbirds only shot at 25%, but they were going so well, they didn’t need two-pointers! It’s only early days of course, but these were the super shot percentages from round one.
Super shot percentages after Round 1:
Fever – 5/7 (71%)
Giants – 8/12 (67%)
Mavericks – 8/12 (67%)
Vixens – 3/5 (60%)
Lightning – 7/17 (41%)
Firebirds – 5/14 (36%)
Swifts – 3/9 (33%)
Thunderbirds – 1/4 (25%)
Maddy Gordon will be a huge asset through the midcourt for the Firebirds, but it may take the team some time to gel. Image Marcela Massey
The three teams coming into this week who shared the best win/loss record in round one in Super Netball were Fever, Thunderbirds, and Vixens. And what do you know, they all won again. At the other end of the scale, it was yet another first round loss for Firebirds.
SSN win/loss records in Round 1:
Fever – 7 wins/3 losses (70%)
Thunderbirds – 7 wins/3 losses (70%)
Vixens – 7 wins/3 losses (70%)
Lightning – 5 wins/4 losses/1 draw (50%)
Giants – 4 wins/6 losses (40%)
Swifts – 4 wins/6 losses (40%)
Mavericks – 1 win/2 losses (33%)
Firebirds – 1 win/8 losses/1 draw (10%)
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LADDER
Team / Pts / %
1 Thunderbirds . 4 . 137%
2 Vixens . 4 . 122%
3 Mavericks . 4 . 117.3%
4 Fever . 4 . 104.6%
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5 Lightning . 0 . 95.6%
6 Giants . 0 . 85.3%
7 Firebirds . 0 . 81.7%
8 Swifts . 0 . 73.0%
Shamera Sterling-Humphry has made a welcome return to court after becoming a mum. Image Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media
NEXT ROUND
Sat, Mar 21
5pm AEDT – LIGHTNING v FIREBIRDS (4pm local time)
7pm AEDT – THUNDERBIRDS v FEVER (6:30pm local time)
Sun, Mar 22
3pm AEDT – GIANTS v VIXENS
5pm AEDT – SWIFTS v MAVERICKS
